1.4 Chemical Determination. Proteins are complex, organic compounds composed of many amino acids linked together through peptide bonds and cross-linked between chains by sulfhydryl bonds, hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces.
Treatment of the underlying disease, of course, ultimately relieves the pleurisy. For example, if a heart, lung, or kidney condition is present, it is treated. Removal of fluid from the chest cavity (thoracentesis) can relieve the pain and shortness of breath.
Pleurisy used to be a common complication of bacterial infections; since the use of antibiotics, however, rates have dropped substantially. If pleurisy is the result of a bacterial infection, doctors can prescribe antibiotics. If a virus is the underlying cause of pleurisy, no treatment will be given.